Messages - Pyrate

There indeed be a learning curve with a MAC. Aye still be fooling around with the blasted machine, but Aye be getting the hang of it. So far the biggest issue has been to get the MAC to work with me external monitor. Even the folks at Apple were stumped, but Aye finally figured it out. And Aye be taking lessons at the Apple store. Of course, now Aye must spend me hard earned Pyrate Booty (not to be confused with me First Mate's fine Pyrate Booty), on new software such as Ableton, acquiring a Roland FC-300 (although Aye have also been considering a Behringer FCB 1010 as well) and getting the Jolly Roger Zendrum upgraded to a Z4 rig. Aye also have to study PocketMaster's videos again to see how he has his rig hooked together.

Shipmate DrumWagon has said it truly and plain. And Aye personally thank him for what he has done for the Zendrum tribe. He has developed a fine tool for our use and deserves a medal for his efforts. Alas Aye not be in a position to give him such a spangly peice of geedunk. DrumWagon will just have to be satisfied with me everlasting gratitude! Aye hope this be enough.

The Olde Pyrate wants to invite all ye to attend the annual Rolling Thunder event in Washington DC on 29 May 2011. Imagine 500000 motorcycles descending into the nation's capitol. It be an amazing sight to be certain. Now all you scallywags that served in the armed forces of these here United States of America, this be an especially emotional event. It even brought this grizzled Olde Salt to tears. So if ye can, make your way to Washington, DC on 29 May 2011. Ye might even catch a glimpse of the Olde Pyrate leading a group of Harley riders into town. And if ye have a Harley, I further invite ye to join me crew in riding from Bowie, MD into Washington, DC. Just give me a strong hail and we will work out all the arrangements.

Remember our brave brothers and sisters in uniform and bring home those that are missing.

Thank ye for your sage advice. Aye have already acquired wire ties, Velcro and the like. Spiral wrap may be a good idea too. It will be a while before Aye can take this rig on the road. Aye still have to set up the home studio, such that wires are not flying about in wild abandon. Then Aye can figure what needs wire ties, what stays and what goes when Aye am on the road. Then Aye will need to develop a decent hard case for the Jolly Roger, Macbook, and all the accoutrement to accompany me.

In the meantime, Aye have also acquired a new iPAD 2. Aye figure that if Aye can attach a wireless access point to the macbook pro (or eventually the Zendrumdrive), Ay can use the application "LOGMEIN" to remotely control the Macbook (or Zendrumdrive), it would be a big assist. Any word on wireless for the Zendrumdrive?

So the Olde Pyrate took his Macbook Pro, Jolly Roger ZX, Motu Fastlane, external HD and associated cables and power supplies to the local Apple store and said in me most intimidating, Pyratical, "HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!!!" We setup the rig, loaded garageband and EZDrummer and lo and behold, sound came out where there was no sound before. Truly an amazing thing. Now Aye need to reload me BFD2 programs and see if Aye can get them to work as well. Methinks me original problem was the Solo host program that comes with EZDrummer was not communicating with me Presonus auudio interface. Huzzah to the folks at Apple for helping me, and to the fine tribe members here that offered their sage advice to the software newbie.

Being the newest tribe member to jump on the Macbook Pro bandwagon (pun intended), Aye have a few opinions. 8 GB of RAM is great, but don't use Apple memory as they charge a Pyrate's ransom for it. As far as the i7 duo or i7 quad, the quad will be just a hair faster, but most people won't be able to tell the difference. Aye puchased the i5 13 inch display with 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB HD, which Aye have connected to me USB 2 and firewaire 800 external HDs. So far Aye have not had any problems with latency issues, but Aye not be through programming stuff yet. An SSD should be 256 GB or higher and be SATA 3 or higher. Lacie is coming out with a Thunderport HD this summer. Pricing is expected to be approximately $200.00 for a 1TB external. A 256 SSD with 8GB RAM and a 1-3 TB thunderport external HD would absotively scream. By Neptune's Trident, Aye would love to do something like that, but Aye must upgrade me Jolly Roger Zendrum first.

That seems to be me problem. Solo sees me Presonus Adiobox, but will not allow me to permanently select it. Hence no sounds. So, until IAye can afford Ableton, Aye must figure out how to use Garageband as a host for EZDrummer. Any advice to the Olde Salty One would be appreciated.

Skype!!!!!! Arrrrgghhhhh, yet another piece of software for me addled brain to learn. Aye do not have Skype, Aye'm afraid, so we will have to figure another method. Methinks Aye will have to acquire a new external hard drive to connect to the Mac. Blast this keeps getting more and more expensive.l

Aye have audio out of my headphones and out of the Presonus. Aye can get sounds using the mouse, but not the Jolly Roger Zendrum. Aye also noticed that when Aye go to save my work to the external hard drive (the same hard drive that Aye had on me old Windows laptop) the files could not be created, so nothing would save. Blast it all.

Being a Macbook newbie is becoming a learning experience. Aye loaded EZDrummer and Solo and all appeared to go well. Authorizations were no problem. Mapping solo to EZdrummer was okay too. I was able to play sonds in EZdrommer/Solo by using the mouse and had no issue. When Aye hooked up the Jolly Roger Zendrum, the problems began. Aye made certain that EZdrummer/Solo was set to Midi channel 10. Aye further made sure that the audio settings were for me Presonus audio interface. Aye made sure that the input was set to Midi Controller. But when Aye plugged in the Jolly Roger ZX, no sounds at all. Obviously Aye have made a configuration error somewhere, but by Neptune's beard Aye cannot figure out where. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks for the tips. So far Aye have managed to get me wireless keyboard and trackball (mice are for cats), working with the new MAcbook Pro. Aye also managed to get flashplayer to work so Aye can view Pocketmasters youtube videos (methinks the next step is either the FC300 or Ableton, if Aye can get a good deal).

The fine folks at the apple store in Neewrak, DE want to see a demo of the Zendrum when Aye get this thing up and running.

Aye plan to load BFD2 and EZDrummer along with all the expansion packs (vsts are located on external drives) as soon as Aye contact Fxpansion and Toontrack to find out how to go about installing them on a Mac without violating my licenses and also to remove them from me old computer, which now goes to me First Mate and Admiral. She wants me to hurry up and learn this stuff so she can start playing with her new toy.

Today this Olde Salt acquired a brand new Macbook Pro with an Intel I5 CPU, 13.3 inch display and 4 Gb of RAM which Aye will eventually upgrade to 8 Gb of RAM. Never having owned a Mac before, Aye be sure that Aye will have plenty of questions. Hopefully ye Mac savvy shipmates will be of assistance to the Olde Pyrate.

Thank Neptune for military discounts and the fine State of Delaware for a lack of sales tax.